Washing Machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine which is designed for preparing hot water, having a water tank connected to an external water supply, and having a control and communication unit for controlling a process for preparing hot water and for communicating with an external unit, wherein the external unit is designed for providing information regarding energy costs for operating the washing machine, and the control and communication unit is designed such that it is possible to activate the process for preparing hot water in the water tank as a function of the information provided by the external unit.

The invention relates to a washing machine which is embodied for the preparation of hot water.

To carry out a washing process, it is necessary with a known washing machine for water introduced into a drum of the washing machine to be heated up. This only takes place once a washing process is activated and a user actuates the washing machine to carry out a washing process. Here however the aspect which comes to the fore for the user is that of time, since a washing machine can only be activated when the user switches it on. In such cases, no attention is paid as a rule to this aspect and the user of the washing machine is also mostly not aware of the fact that the energy required for operating the washing machine is traded in energy exchanges at prices which differ greatly for particular times of day. It is thus very likely that a washing process is started for example at precisely a point in time at which the energy costs for operating the washing machine are relatively high.

The object of the present invention is thus to create a washing machine in which the preparation of hot water can be undertaken in an effective and efficient manner.

This object is achieved by a washing machine which has the features claimed in claim 1.

An inventive washing machine is embodied for preparation of hot water and features a water tank. This water tank for storage of hot water is connected to an external water supply. Furthermore the washing machine has a control and communication unit which is embodied for control of a hot water preparation process and for communication with an external unit. The external unit in its turn is embodied for provision of information about energy costs, especially at an energy exchange able to be contacted via the Internet, for the operation of the washing machine. The control and communication unit of the washing machine is additionally embodied so that the process of preparing hot water in the water tank is able to be activated as a function of information provided by the external unit. The inventive washing machine thus enables hot water to be prepared in an effective and efficient manner, which can be optimized in respect of the energy costs which differ according to time of day. Preparation of hot water is understood in particular to include the heating up of water contained or brought into the water tank.

In an advantageous manner the control and communication unit is embodied such that the hot water preparation process is able to be activated independently of a washing process. The end result of this is that the preparation of hot water on the one hand and the execution of the washing process on the other hand can be conducted as separate processes which can be started individually.

The control and communication unit can be embodied as a single unit. There can however also be provision for both a control unit and also a communication unit to be embodied as separate units, which are connected to each other for exchange of information and data. This connection can be embodied as either a wired or a wireless connection. The control and communication unit thus makes it possible in a simple and low-cost manner to initiate and activate as well as to control a process of preparing hot water. This can be done independently of a user of the washing machine and be undertaken by the control and communication unit automatically at any given time of day.

The control and communication unit is advantageously embodied so that the hot water preparation process is activated if the energy costs for energy obtained and purchased via the energy exchange are at their lowest for the operation of the washing machine. The end result of this is that, independently of a subsequent washing process to be undertaken, the hot water can be prepared at any given time of day when the energy costs are at their most favorable. The costs for a washing process can be greatly reduced in this way.

In an especially advantageous manner the control and communication unit is embodied for communication over the Internet. This makes it possible in a simple manner to continuously retrieve information from the external unit and to communicate “online” with this external unit.

There can be provision for the control and communication unit to be programmable. In such cases one of the parameters able to be defined is how much energy is to be retrieved. There can also be provision for the control and communication unit to be embodied in the water tank for control of the water inlet. In this case there can be provision for either a specific volume of water, for example a maximum volume of water needed, to be admitted to the water tank and heated up to a predetermined temperature, or if the washing machine has been filled with washing, determined in a known way by a load measurement, and a washing process selected, for an optimum water volume to be provided, heated and used.

The control and communication unit can be embodied for wireless or also for wired communication with the external unit. LAN or WLAN (wireless local area network) communication networks can be provided here for example. In principle however all other suitable communication networks are also possible.

There can be provision, in the event of the control and communication unit not being embodied for Internet-capable communication, for an external control unit to be provided in the house installation, which is electrically connected to the control and communication unit (wireless or wired), with this external control unit then being embodied for communication with the external unit. This communication is undertaken especially over the Internet, with the external control unit also fulfilling a communication function for other assigned home appliances. In such cases there can be provision for this external control unit in the house installation for starting a preparation process for warm water.

In a preferred manner the water tank features a heating device and/or a temperature regulation device. This enables the water present in the water tank to be heated up and the process to be monitored in the optimum way.

In addition an arrangement of this type can result in a heater pocket no longer being required on a lye container of the washing machine, which enables a lower water consumption to be achieved. Another result is that calcification of the heating device is prevented since the heating device is arranged outside the lye container of the washing machine.

In a preferred manner the water tank is embodied with thermal insulation. The end result of this is that the water heated up by a preparation process in a water tank can be stored and kept ready over a long period at a relatively high temperature. This makes it possible that, if the water contained in the water tank is heated up during the night, water is also available during the day at an appropriately high temperature for a washing process to be carried out.

There can be provision for the hot water stored in the water tank to be at least partly available in a subsequent washing process and to be able to be transported into a drum of the washing machine. Furthermore a pump system can be provided in the washing machine which is embodied to feed water back into a drum of the washing machine during a washing process. During an active program start to execute an individual washing process the preheated volume of water in the water tank can be pumped via a dispensing device of the washing machine into the drum and to avoid a cooling down of the water during a long heating phase, part volumes of water can be heated up again briefly in the water tank via the pump system. The water tank can be embodied as an additional separate water tank in the washing machine.

The object able to be achieved with the washing machine is to enable a washing process to be executed with minimized energy costs since energy can be provided and utilized at best market rates. In addition a good overview of energy consumption can be obtained by precisely timed energy accounting.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to a schematic drawing. The single FIG. 1 shows a washing machine 1 which is embodied for the preparation of hot water independently of a washing process. The washing machine 1 comprises actuation elements 11 a and 11 b, through which different washing programs can be conducted and a washing process can be started. Through these actuation elements 11 a and/or 11 b a process of filling a water tank 13 with water and/or a preparation process, especially a process of heating up the water in the water tank 13, can be explicitly started by a user of the washing machine 1.

The washing machine 1 features a control and communication unit 12 which in the exemplary embodiment is embodied as a single unit. There can also be provision for the washing machine 1 to feature both an internal control unit and also a separate internal communication unit, which are embodied for exchange of information and data.

In addition the washing machine 1 features the thermally-insulated water tank 13 which is embodied for the storage of hot water or heated water. As can be seen from the drawing in FIG. 1, the control and communication unit 12 is embodied for control of a hot water preparation process in the water tank 13 and for communication with an external unit 2.

Communication between the control and communication unit 12 and the external unit 2 can be wireless but can also be over wires. In the exemplary embodiment communication between these two units 12 and 2 is indicated by the signal connection 2 a.

In the exemplary embodiment the control and communication unit 12 is embodied for communication over the Internet, so that the information provided by the external unit 2 can be retrieved online by the control and communication unit 12. The external unit 2 is embodied for provision of information about energy costs of an energy exchange.

Furthermore the washing machine 1 is connected to a water supply 3. On the one hand an electrical signal connection 3 a is embodied between the control and communication unit 12 and a control unit (not shown) arranged in the water supply. In addition the water supply 3 has a mechanical connection 3 b to the washing machine 1 and especially to the water tank 13. This is implemented for example by a flexible hose through which the water can flow.

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, information relating to the energy costs provided by the external unit 2 is constantly retrieved by the control and communication unit 12. A preparation process for heating up water in the water tank 13 is activated by the control and communication unit 12 at that time when energy costs are at their lowest at the energy exchange. This can occur at any given time of day, which means that a preparation process can be initiated by the control and communication unit automatically at any given time of day.

If it is established that the energy costs at the energy exchange are low enough for a preparation process to be started, a signal is transmitted by the control and communication unit over the signal connection 3 a by which a valve (not shown) in the water supply 3 is opened and water can flow via the mechanical connection 3 b from the water supply 3 into the water tank 13. In such cases both the volume of water which is to flow into this water tank 13, and also the time for which a process of preparing the water contained in the water tank 13 is to last is controlled by the control and communication unit 12. In an advantageous manner threshold values to enable these parameters to be set accordingly are programmed into the control and communication unit 12. In such cases there can be provision for an energy cost threshold value to be programmed in by a user, with a process of preparing hot water then being undertaken by the control and communication unit 12 if the information provided via the external unit 2 about the energy costs of the energy exchange indicate energy cost values which are lower than or equal to this energy cost threshold value.

In addition the period for a process of heating up water and also the volume to be supplied to the water tank 13 can also be programmed in a preparation process.

There can however be provision for programming to be undertaken such that a process of preparing hot water continues as regards volume and time until such time as the energy costs at the energy exchange exceed the energy cost threshold value again. Of course the maximum time for which the process of heating up the water present in the water tank 13 lasts is only until such time as a predeterminable temperature has been reached. To this end the water tank 13 has a heating device and a temperature regulation device (not shown) in the exemplary embodiment.

Thus either a specific volume of water, which corresponds for example to a maximum volume of water needed, can be admitted to the water tank 13 and heated up by the control and communication unit 12 or, if the water tank 13 has already been filled and a washing program set by a load measurement, an optimized volume of water can be used and heated up for the washing process.

For an active start of a washing process the volume of water preheated and stored in the water tank 13 can be pumped via a dispensing device not shown in the figure into a drum not shown in the figure of the washing machine 1 and, to avoid the water cooling down over a long heating phase, part volumes can be pumped back briefly by a pumping system into the water tank 13 and heated up. The water tank 13 can also be embodied as an additional extra water container and thus be arranged for example almost as a second or third water container in the washing machine 1. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A washing machine comprising: a water tank adapted for preparation of hot water; the water tank being connected to an external water supply; a control and communication unit adapted to control a process of preparing hot water in the water tank; the control and communication unit adapted to communicate with an external unit which is enabled to provide information about energy costs for the preparation of the hot water for the washing machine; the control and communication unit being configured such that the process of preparing hot water in the water tank may be activated as a function of information provided by the external unit.
 15. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is configured such that the process of preparing hot water may be activated independently of a washing process.
 16. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is configured such that the process of preparing hot water may be activated when the energy costs for the preparation of the hot water for the washing machine are substantially the lowest during the day.
 17. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is configured for communication over the Internet.
 18. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is programmable.
 19. The washing machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control and communication unit is programmed to obtain energy for heating up a maximum volume of water needed for a washing process.
 20. The washing machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control and communication unit is programmed to obtain energy for heating up a volume of water needed by a selected washing process and an existing wash load.
 21. The washing machine as claimed in 14, wherein an energy cost threshold value is stored in the control and communication unit, whereby the process of heating up water is activated only if the energy costs obtainable from the external unit are less than or equal to the energy cost threshold value.
 22. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is configured for wireless communication with the external unit.
 23. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control and communication unit is configured for wired communication with the external unit.
 24. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the water tank includes a heating device.
 25. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the water tank includes a temperature regulation device.
 26. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the water tank is thermally-insulated.
 25. The washing machine as claimed in claim 14 further including a pump system and a drum; the pump system being configured for returning water from the drum into the water tank during a washing process. 